Maternity panty



June 27, 1950 H, ILLER' 2,513,039

MATERNITY PANTY Q Filed Aug 16, 1949 TI EJ.

INVENTOR HELEN E. MILLER ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED;

, H elen E. inegnquiai, Gal Q Application kugust 1c, 194'9;{ s''r i rNo. nonse- "[6 claims. (01. 2522451) This invention relates tofifemale undergarments, and more particularly to'panties especially adapted for wear during pregnancy; It'is a commonexperience of expectant'mothers to be in-- convenienced by ordinary pantie garment's,"and to find them entirely unsuitable for use. As progressive changes in shape and size of the figure occur, ordinary panties become difficult. to anchor about the abdomen, andbecome unduly uncomfortable and restrictive; Recourse to larger sizes offers only a partial solutionto theproblem, affording sufiicient'material in the front thereof to extend. above and cover the distended body portion, but also involvingexcess material inthe back portion which precludes a'smooth, comfortable fit. Various types of supporting garments for pregnancy are wellknown, but commonlyinclude' means restrictive upon the abdomen, an uncomfortable consequence, unnecessaryinnormal pregnancies.-

nancy;

pantie, comprising an elastic upper edge adapted, in the front portion of the garment, for disposition above rather than across the abdomen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a smooth fitting maternity pantie,;-readily and comfortably anchored about the figure of the wearer.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention andthe novelfeatures thereof may best be made clear from the followingde-L scription and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating an exemplary maternity pantie according to my invention, as applied to a figure partly indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pantie of Figure 1,1ooking toward the rear panel thereof;

Figure 3 is a pattern layout, illustrating one manner in which the garment may be cut out for assembly;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing one method of gathering the front panel into the side seam, by pleating, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing another method of gathering the front panel into a side seam, by means of darts.

is shown an exemplary It is an object'of the present invention, there-- fore; to provide a comfortable and healthful pantie garment adapted for-wear during preg- Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 garment :made iniaccordance with rmr' invention, comprising a front" panel ,backjpanelll2 and crotch portion I3, preferably; although not. necessarily, constructed .of

conventional underwear knit fabric, of silk,

rayon, nylon or cotton thread, or mixtures thereof. The panels II and I2 and the crotch portion 13 desirably are distinct sections, the crotch portion being reinforced in the usual manner, although it will be understood that the garment may be cut as, and. assembled from; a. single piece of fabric, if desired.

A pattern layout/for .the garment is illustrated in Figure 3,wherein it.will' be noted-that as an.

outstanding feature ofthe invention, the. front panel H issubstantially longer than 'theback; panel 12, about longer in the example shownr 'I'he front' panel desirably is also substantially wider; at least in the upper portion thereof,..than is the-back panel, for reasons presently apparent."

Theupper edge l5 of the front panel is desirably bowed, as shown, but may be straight, ,the-

critical feature of the invention residing primarily in the greater length of the v.panel as measured from thecrotchportion tothe center of edge I5, as compared to the corresponding length of the; rear. panel. The lower portions of both panels maybe provided with the usual cut-away portions. l6,-to define the leg openings in the finished garmenuandthe neck-portions Il extending therebetween, to which the crotch portion I3 is joined.

The front and back panels and the crotch portionhaving. been joined, if required, the panels are then joined into side seams l8. The sides of the front panel being longer than those of the back panel, the front panel is gathered into the seams l8, as at [9. The gathering I9 is preferably confined to the upper portion of the side seams, desirably to about the upper third thereof. The front panel may be gathered into the seams as shown in Figure 1, or pleated or darted thereinto, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively, the term gathering being used in its generic sense as inclusive of tucking, pleating, darting, shirring, and the like.

So assembled, the front panel of the garment tends to naturally assume a convex configuration, and. the waist opening of the garment tends to assume a position in a substantially vertical plane, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The upper edge of the assembled garment is desirably provided with means for varying the waist opening thereof, preferably with resilient means. In the example shown, the upper edge of In use, the garment is readily drawn on into position, the elastic band being expanded over the abdomenand'then emplac'ed :thereabove at the natural'waistline, as shown in Figure 11. It will be readily apparent from the drawing that the pantie exerts no restrictive pressure whatso ever on the abdomen, but is retained in pl ae e solely by the light pressure of the elastic band exerted thereabove, in an inward and slightly 1 of fixed length, pull the sideso'fthe elasticiband" downwardly from the elevated position :"of' the 1 front portion thereof, whereby the band fits substantially'straight across thefback. By reason of the :greater length and width of of the garment i especially I adapted to fit :about the :figure of the wearer without the slightest discomfort or restriction. When the garment is constructed of ordinary underwear knit, as-will usually be "the case,the natural give ofiithe material sfurther tends to accommodate 'the garment to the "figure of "the wearer.', Additionally, the garment fits with pleasing smoothness, :an effect enhanced by the bowed upper edgelliof the front panel, shown in Figure 3. In place, it "will be noted, the excess widthof the front panel isexrj tended about the figure of :the wearer, and the time'by'women whose figures are suited thereto":

"It twill. thus be seen that there has been :'pro- 3 videdriby this invention a structure in 'whic'h the various objects hereinbefore "set :forth, together with many practical advantages, are 1 successfully achieved. various possible embodiments may bezmadeof the "mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from the-scope hereinbefore-set forth or shown in the 'a'ccoms panying drawings is to'be interpreted as ill-US! trative, and not int-ailimitingsense.

I claim:

seams, the upper portion of said front panel being gathered into said side seams.

2. A maternity pantie comprising a front panel and a back panel joined by a crotch portion, said front panel being smooth and substantially longer and wider than said back panel, said front and back panels being joined to each other in side seams, the upper portion of said front panel being gathered into saidside seams, and means associatedwith the upp'erEe'dge of said pantie for varying "the "opening thereof.

3. A maternity pantie comprising a front panel and a back panel joined by a crotch portion, said flontzpanel being smooth and substantially longer and wider, than said back panel, said front and back panels 'being joined to each other in side downward direction. The side seams 48, being scamspand -i esilient means associated with the upper edge of said pantie for varying the open- Z in'g "thereof.

the 'front panel, and the-gathering 49, the front thereof,-it is to be understood that :all matter *1. qAimaternityipa'ntiecomprising a front panel andta back panel:joined by aic'rotcnportion, said front panel hein'g smoothiand :substantiallyilonger and wider than 'saidtback panel, :said 'front and back :pane'ls being joined. to each other in side 4. A maternity pantie comprising a front panel and a=back panel fjoined by a reinforced crotch portion, :saidifront ;panel being smooth :and substantially: longerand wider than said back panel said front and'backipanels 'being joined to each other in :side *seams, the upper portion of said front panel being :gathered into .said side seams,

the upper :ed-geofrsaid'pantie being at :least partially igathered into an elastic band.

*5. Amaternity;pantie comprising a frontr'panel- 6. A maternityipa'ntie comprising a front panel and:a back panel joined by a crotch portion, said: fronttpanelz'being smooth and-substantially longer a and wider than said back ipanel, the upper edge of 'sai'd front panel bein-g bow'ed, the front. and

back panels being .ijOltlB'd-to each bther in side. seams, the :upper rportion of said. front panel being gathered into said side seams, and means associated withrthe upper" edge of said :pantie for yanying the openingdzhereof.

MILLER.

s REFEB-ENQES CITED The follotving references are of record in Fthe file 'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS p .z Da'te 

